Sanchez struggles and Tigers offer him little support in 6-2 loss to Orioles

By DAVID GINSBURG AP Sports WriterAugust 01, 2015 - 11:22 pm EDT

BALTIMORE — Their starting pitcher was hit hard, the offense offered little support and the team fell into an early hole that proved too difficult to overcome.

It was the kind of night that could very well develop into a regular occurrence for the Detroit Tigers during the final two months of the season.

Anibal Sanchez yielded six runs and the Tigers managed only six hits in a 6-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night.

Getting a homer and three RBIs from No. 9 hitter Caleb Joseph, Baltimore built a 5-0 lead by the fourth inning against a decimated club that seemed incapable of fighting back

Kevin Gausman (2-2) retired the first 11 batters without allowing a ball out of the infield, and by the time Detroit got its first hit the Orioles had already scored three runs.

Gausman was working on a run of 13 straight shutout innings before Nick Castellanos homered with a man on in the fifth.

That was the lone salvo from the Tigers, who traded away three of their best players before Friday's non-waiver trade deadline in the opening phase of a rebuilding effort.

"It's like a roller coaster right now," Sanchez said.

Sanchez (10-9) allowed a season-high-tying nine hits in 6 2/3 innings. He has lost two straight since winning seven decisions in a row.

"One of those games when you throw ball good but give up home runs," said Sanchez, who was yanked after giving up a solo shot to Manny Machado.

Detroit showed some fight in the first two games of the series, winning 9-8 before falling 8-7. This one, however, was decided rather early.

"They put two runs up in the first inning," Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler said. "You want to keep momentum on your side. Score early and add runs. That's what they did. They played a really good game tonight."

Kinsler had three hits, his 39th multihit game of the season. He's 10 for 14 in the series that ends Sunday.

Gerardo Parra went 1 for 3 and scored a run in his Baltimore debut. Obtained Friday in a trade with Milwaukee, the outfielder became the 1,000th player to appear in a game for the Orioles.

Baltimore has seven of eight to climb three games over .500 for the first time since July 6. The Orioles are just one game behind Minnesota in the race for the final AL wild-card spot.

Gausman gave up two runs, struck out six and walked none over seven innings to earn his first win in 13 appearances since April 7.

Baltimore jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. After Machado hit a leadoff single, Parra received a standing ovation from many in the sellout crowd of 45,968 before his first at-bat. He responded with a double to extend his hitting streak to 15 games.

One out later, Chris Davis drove in a run with a groundout and Matt Wieters hit an RBI single.

Joseph singled in a second-inning run and made it 5-0 in the fourth with his eighth homer following an infield single by J.J. Hardy, who also has a 15-game hitting streak.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: RF J.D. Martinez left in the middle of the third inning after fouling a ball off his left knee in the top of the second. X-rays were negative. ... Manager Brad Ausmus said RHP Alfredo Simon (groin) will receive three extra days of rest before his next start. ... 1B Miguel Cabrera (calf strain) is "a little ahead of schedule" in his quest to return, Ausmus said, but there is no timetable for the start of his rehabilitation assignment.